Ozbrecht 2017 - Europe's Rhine & Danube Rivers
Würzburg, Germany
Day 9 - July 1
On the bus ride into Würzburg. Vineyards everywhere!
Aerial view of the Bishops’ Residenz, our next tour
[Internet picture]
View of the Würzburg Bishiops’ Residenz from the front. [Internet picture]
For centuries, the Würzburg prince-bishops had enormous power and wealth. Their crowning glory - or shame, at least some, in my opinion - is the baroque-styled Bishops’ Residenz, built between 1720 and 1744.
It is an impressive display of human artistry, and breathtakingly beautiful. But couldn’t they have helped the poor with their wealth?
The Residenz was almost completely burned out during World War II. Renovation inside and out took over 40 years, from 1945 to 1987.
The grand staircase inside. The front entrance is to the right. [Internet picture]
The Four Continents, by Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, was created between 1752 & 1753, and is the largest ceiling fresco in the world. Each of the four sides represents a continent of the world - Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. [Internet picture]
A portion of the ceiling fresco. [Internet picture]
One of the many ornate rooms in the Residenz. [Internet picture]
[Internet picture]
Back view of the Residenz with gardens
Beautiful rose garden
Würzburg - town of many spires
Skeleton Man
Mummy Man
St. Kilian’s Cathedral. Architectural style: Romanesque
Neumeunster Church
Young Würzburg musicians
Würzburg Ratkseller. A ratskellar is a bar or restaurant located in a city’s town hall. We ate lunch here.
Würzburg is the capital of Lower Franconia, a region in northern Bavaria. It suffered more damage during World War II than any German large city; in March 1945, about 90% was destroyed in 17 minutes by fire bombing from 225 British Lancaster bombers
St. Mary’s Chapel
Apple Strudel!
Würzburg, the Main River, and I’m not sure what it is on the hilltop
From our balcony
The Modi Sun Deck. We are about to enter a portion of the Main River & Canal which passes under a number of low bridges. The Sun Deck will be closed for 3 days
Day 9 - July 1
Würzburg, Germany
Overnight, the Modi passed through Frankfurt in the German state of Hesse and made its way to Würzburg, in Lower Franconia, a northern region of the state of Bavaria. Our morning was spent on a walking tour of the Bishops’ Residenz and of the town of Würzburg.
For centuries, the Würzburg prince-bishops wielded enormous power and wealth, and the city grew in opulence. Nowhere is this more apparent than the Bishops’ Residenz. It is the most ornate visit we will make on our trip, and to me, a sad display of how the wealthy (and purported religious) kept all that wealth to themselves.
The Residenz was built in the 18th century. Although it would welcome visitors to stay here (only the wealthy and powerful, mind you), it mostly served as a massive house for one man – a bishop. The Residenz has a grand staircase of marble, huge ceiling fresco paintings (one is the largest in the world) and numerous rooms of gold and mirrors; the architect had a penchant for spatial illusions. Behind the palace, the gardens cover acres – very beautiful.
Our guide took us into the town of Würzburg. The town square, as usual, holds the main Roman Catholic cathedral, St. Kilian (an Irish missionary). It is a town of many colorful churches and spires. It suffered more damage in World War II than any German large city. It is remarkable how the city has been rebuilt to recover is heritage.
After our walking tour, we had some free time, and had our lunch at the local Ratskeller. After lunch, we go in search of Apple Strudel. Success!